Dental bite-tray.



M. E. SANDERS;

DENTAL BITE TRAY.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.14, 1914.

msmm Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

M- E SHNDERS THE NORRIS PETERS CO4. FHDTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D4 C.

UNITED BTABfi Pr TldllrlT @Fldftllfl.

MASTIN E. SANDERS, 0F ROSENBERG, TEXAS.

DENTAL BITE-TRAY.

Application filed September 14, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAs'rIN E. SANDnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rosenberg, in the county of Fort Bend and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Bite- Trays, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has for its primary object to provide an improved bite tray, whereby the taking of the bite may be satisfactorily performed and greatly facilitated, Without material discomfort or annoyance to either the patient or the operator, such as is incident to the practice of the generally adopted method now in common use.

The invention has for an additional object to produce a bite tray, which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and may be used in different sized mouths.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

For a full understanding of the inven tion, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a bite tray showing the same arranged in the mouth of the patient and the gums closed thereon, and Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the upper and lower sides of the dental tray.

The method commonly practised by the dental profession at the present day for taking the bite is to soften by means of heat, moisture, or both, some material such as dental wax, plaster of Paris, or the like, with or without a piece of wood or other hard substance arranged at the median line to arrest or stay the bite. This has always been an exceedingly diificult part of the process of preparing dental plates and is the frequent cause of failure. It also requires a great deal of time and patience both on the part of the operator and the patient.

The present invention is devised with a view to overcoming this difliculty. As illus- Patented Mar. 3Q, 1915.

Serial No. 861,682.

trated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, I form my improved bite tray of dental vulcanite, modeling compound, celluloid, or similar substance. It may, however, be also constructed of metal, such as aluminum, alloys of metals, or any other hard sub stances having the necessary qualities.

In the opposite surfaces of the body of the tray indicated at 5, a groove or depression is formed. The depression 6 in the upper surface of the body 5 receiving the upper gum ridge, while the depression 7 in the lower surface of said body receives the lower gum ridge. These depressions are enlarged by means of a suitable instrument, so that the gum ridges may have a play or possible movement of one quarter of an inch more or less therein, whereby the tray may be fitted into different sized mouths. The thickness of the body between the upper and lower faces thereof should be equal to or a little less than the distance between the upper and lower gum ridges, when the jaws are closed, so that the lips will meet properly. The body portion of the tray is, of course, properly shaped, so that it will not interfere with the other parts of the month.

In the use of my improved. bite tray, the plaster of Paris, dental wax, or other material of the usual consistency, is placed in the upper and lower gum receiving depressions of the tray, the same is then placed in the patients mouth, and when in proper position the patient is instructed to close his jaws, biting into this soft material. The tray is allowed to remain in the mouth of the patient until the impressionable material has become set, or sufficiently hardened. The bite tray is then removed, the patient assisting in the removal with his tongue.

By means of my invention, above described, the process of taking the bite is rendered extremely simple and easy of accomplishment; nor is it attended with the usual discomfort to the patient generally experienced with the methods now in common use.

Owing to the extreme simplicity of my invention, it will further be manifest that the same can be produced at small manufacturing cost. The device is also of great convenience and serviceability in practical process of tinuous grooves or channels adapted to re- 10 celve therespective gum ridges.

In testlmony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

MASTIN E. SANDERS.

use and materially facilitates the making or preparing dental plates.

What I claim is:

The herein described dental bite tray consisting'of a homogeneous body molded from a hard pressure resisting substance and adapted to be entirely received Within the Witnesses:

mouth of the patient, said body being pro- E. E. GHERNosKY, vided in its upper and lower faces With con- J. E. JUNKER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for I Washington, D. G. 

